http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2011/06/22/reps-frank-and-paul-let-states-legalize-pot/ Reps. Frank and Paul: Let states legalize pot A bipartisan team of Reps. Barney Frank, D-Mass., and Ron Paul, R-Texas, will introduce federal legislation that would permit states to legalize, regulate, tax and control mar1juana without federal interference. The legislation will be unveiled Thursday by Frank, an outspoken liberal Democrat, and the libertarian Paul, who is running for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination. The bill would limit the U.S. government role in mar1juana enforcement to interdiction of cross-border or inter-state smuggling. Citizens would be able to legally grow, use or sell cannabis in states which have legalized the forbidden weed. The legislation is the first bill to be introduced in Congress that would end federal mar1juana prohibition. In a preview of the legislation, the mar1juana Policy Project noted that last week marked the 40th Anniversary of when President Nixon declared that the federal government was at war with mar1juana and other drugs. Nixon had rejected recommendations by a presidential panel that the country move toward decriminalization and an education and treatment-based drug policy. The legislation follows a report by the Global Commission on Drug Policy, released early this month, that pronounced the War on Drugs a failure and advocated legal regulation of mar1juana. Sixteen states and the District of Columbia — including the “Left Coast” of Washington, Oregon and California — have voted to allow medical use of mar1juana — with a doctor’s prescription — to relieve pain. But federal laws against possession and sale of mar1juana have continued in force. Last November, 46.5 percent of California voters opted in favor of an initiative to legalize mar1juana in America’s most populous state. Other sponsors of the Frank-Paul legislation include Reps. John Conyers, D-Mich., Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., Jared Polis, D-Colo. and Barbara Lee, D-Calif.
Both of those guys have been outspoken critics of the drug war for years. Good for them, this is long past due.
Good news! I'd like to see even more devolution of federal power to the state level. I like Ron Paul in terms of military involvement and law enforcement ... I just wish he wasn't so wrong on everything else.
If they want this to go anywhere, they need a chunk of GOP sponsors too. As is, this is basically a controversial Dem bill in a GOP House, with Ron Paul jumping on board. Right or wrong, it's DOA in its current setup. They have to get true bipartisan support if they want this to go anywhere.
